11 arrested in mansion disturbance

Eleven people have been arrested following a disturbance at a mansion occupied by squatters.

PUBLISHED: 16:04, Sun, Apr 1, 2012

Some of those living in the house were previously part of the Occupy Bristol camp on College Green [PA]

Eleven people have been arrested following a disturbance at a mansion occupied by squatters.

Police went to Cliftonwood House in Clifton, Bristol, at about 10.30am on Sunday following complaints made over noise levels during a party on Saturday night.

Two uniformed officers came under attack when objects were thrown from the roof of the £3 million house. Avon and Somerset Police said they called for back-up and a total of 11 people were arrested - nine people for public-order offences and two for assaulting officers.

The squatters have now been evicted and the property is back in the hands of the legal owners.

A police spokeswoman said: "We went to the property this morning following on from an incident last night, which was a party at the premises, and we had a number of complaints.

"This morning two neighbourhood officers went to do some follow up inquiries and came under attack with objects thrown from the roof. They called for back up and 11 arrests were made - two for assaulting a police officer and nine for public order offences. No-one has been left inside and the property is back with the agent."

The extent of the two officers' injuries is not known. The squatters moved in last month but were facing eviction following the granting at Bristol County Court of an Order of Possession in favour of the building's owners, the Bank of Scotland.

The mansion, a former university hall of residence, was once Bristol's most expensive property - on the market for £4.2 million. The grade II listed property has eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, an indoor swimming pool, vaulted cellar and a gym and is now thought to be worth £2.9 million.

Several of people who were living in the house were previously part of the controversial Occupy Bristol camp located on College Green.

In the past week residents have complained to the police about golf balls being hit at them from the roof of house. They also say their lives have been made a misery by all-night parties held at the property.